Silas means of the forest — from the Latin silva (forest), or it may come from the Aramaic for asked for. In the New Testament, Silas was Paul's missionary companion. George Eliot's Silas Marner is one of literature's most moving stories of redemption. Justin Timberlake named his son Silas. The name sounds like wind through ancient trees: two syllables of woodland mystery and biblical companionship.
Latin silva (forest) or Aramaic (asked for)→Greek Silas→English Silas
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Latin / Greek roots
Silas may come from the Latin silva (forest) or from the Aramaic word for asked for. In Acts, Silas is Paul's companion on his second missionary journey. George Eliot's Silas Marner (1861) tells the story of a weaver who is redeemed by adopting an orphaned child. Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel named their son Silas in 2015. The name has surged into the US top 100.
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First recorded
Earliest known use: Biblical — Acts 15-18, where Silas accompanies Paul on missionary journeys.
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Today
Silas remains a beloved choice, ranking #102 in the US. 70,949 babies have been named Silas since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
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How popular is Silas?
2024peak year
Today, Silas ranks around #102 in the United States, with roughly 3,695 new arrivals per year. But it wasn't always this way. At its peak in 2024, 4,108 babies were given the name (ranked #81 nationally). Its strongest stretch was the 2010s. Silas's usage has held roughly steady recently. In all, around 70,949 babies have been registered as Silas since 1880.
Year-by-year registrations1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
4,108 Babies named in peak year (ranked #81)
3,695Avg. per year (last decade)
36,950Total registrations last 10 years
70,949All-time total (since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #102)Very popular
Silas's Life Path 6 is the nurturer's number — forest nurturer. People named Silas tend to be loyal, grounded, and capable of profound personal transformation.
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Profound transformation
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Forest-grounded loyalty
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Companion's faithfulness
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Redemption energy
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Asked-for blessing
S1
I9
L3
A1
S1
Sum: 15 → Life path 6
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Personality of Silas
❤️
Nurturing heart
They notice when someone is struggling before anyone else.
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Creates warmth
Their circle is warmer for their presence.
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Strong morals
They know what's right and stand by it.
🌸
Quietly selfless
They give and give, often without realising how much.
Every name has a homeland. Discover strong boy names rooted in cultures from around the world — each with full meanings, origin stories and pronunciation.